Burial-casket.



J. D. McKINNEYA.

BURIAL CASKET.

l N FILED SEPT. 15. I916.

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Patented Mar. 26, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- J. D. MCKINNEY- BURIAL CASKET.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT 15, WI 6. 1,260,927. v

Patented Mar. 26, 1918.

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Specification of Letters late nt.

Patented Mar. ac, rare.

Application filed September 15, 1916. Serial No. 120,355.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB D. MCKINNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hemphill, in the county of Sabine and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBurial-Caskets; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention relates to a novel and improved burial casket or coflin and has for one of its aimsthe production of a casket constructed in a manner to obviate the necessity of the use of all metallic securing devices now commonly em loyed and which corrode and deteriorate rom moisture andthe salt of the body of the corpse when the ordinary casket has been deposited in the ground with the result that the parts con stituting the usual form of casket become disexpose the body of the corpse to the moisture and water in the ground as well as to attack by parasites and burrowing animals.

Another aim of this invention is to provide a non-destructible casket comprising a base anda removable body or casing therefor and between which may be interposed anyhsuitable packing or cushioning material suc ton waste, excelsior or other'suitable packing material to prevent jarring of the casket and breakage thereof. by sudden impact between the meeting edges of the casing and the base which may be occasioned during the transportation of the casket, but which packing material is preferably removed when the casket is to be deposited in the ground and for this purpose the base of the casket is I rovided with means for receiving a securmg and sealing medium for efliclently cementing and sealin the casing upon the base to provide a tight joint between the meeting points of the casing and the base for eifectually excluding moisture and germs from gaining access into the interior of the casket.

' A further aim is to provide the casing or upper coflin body with handles or handle bars to facilitate the handling and placing of the casing upon the base of the casket and for removing the casing or upper coflin body from the base, and to. provide the base of the casket with stirrups or straps provided with handles or handle bars for hanas a pneumatic rlng, pipes, felt, cot

dling the base member of the casket alone and to also handle the casket in its entirety, that is, to handle the base member together with the upper cofiin body or casing thereon. The base member of the casket is further provided with a surrounding band or hoop for reinforcing the base member and to provide a guide for the casing when placing the same upon the, base member. The reinforcing member also forms part of the means for the reception of the sealing medium which secures the upper cofiin body or casing upon the base member of the easket to thus form a unitary structure.

A' further aim is the production of a burial casket having a base member formed of any suitable plastic material, wood, or fiber, preferably hard wood, and provided with an upper surface body of cement or the like, and an upper coflin body or casing formed preferably of suitable plastic material and formed with an lpxpen bottom, the top of the upper body he g closed'by the same material that the remalning portlon is formed, if desired, but I preferably form the top of the upper body or casing with a surrounding groove or recess and suitably se-, cure therein a plate'or pane of glass which V may cover the entire upper portion of the casing or the glass may coverany desired lesser portion. 7

I will explain the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and summarize in the claims the combination of the novel parts thereof for which I desire to secure protection.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view ofthecas ket with its parts in assembled relation.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view. I

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the casket in condition for transportation with the cushioning member interposed between its sections.

Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3 but showing the removal of the cushioning member and the sections cemented together preparatory for burial.

In said drawings, 1 denotes the base'memher or bottom of the sectional casket preferably provided with upwardly and outto this any suitable fiber and may form in the surrounding upper edge of the base 1 the groove or rabbet 1, and the top of the base 1 is preferably covered with atop layer of any suitable thickness of plastic or cementitious material 2 having its edges 2 forming-a coating for the ide wall and bottom of the rabbet 1 of the base member 1. Surrounding the sides and ends of the base 1 and of the same contour is the reinforcing band or hoop 3. This hoop is preferably a metallic hoop and is secured to the base 1 in any suitable manner but preferably swelled thereon by first heating the same and then allowing it to contract and impinge the edges of the base 1 and may be further secured, to the base 1 by the nails 1 or other securing means. The band or hoop 3 is preferably formed wider than the thickness of the base member 1 and its surface coating 2 so that the upper edge of the hoop 3 will project slightly above the plane of the upper surface of the coating 2. The hoop 3 extends in an u wardlyand outwardly direction with the upper longitudinal half forming. 4 one side wall of the surrounding recess of -'which the rabbeted portion or groove 1* provides the bottom and other side wall of the recess.

Suitably secured upon; the under side of the based are a plurality of straps or stirrups 4, preferably two as shown, and these stirrups 4 have their ends rovided with the upstanding arms 4, int e upper ends of which are provided the eyes or loops 4: having suitably secured therethrough the handle bars 4, though individual handles may be secured to the eyes or loops 4 of the stirrups -1' if desired, the stirrups 4 being preferablysecured .upon the base 1 by the nails 4 or other suitable securing means. Adapted to be su ported by and secured upon the base 1 is t e casing or upper coffin body 5 formed ofan'y suitable plastic, fibrous, or cementitious, material and constructed with an open bottom-and preferably upwardly converging side and end walls. The top of the body 5' is also preferably open and has'au-opening in its upper side covered by a plate or pane of glass 5 which maybe secured therein in any suit.-

ablemanner, as by sealing medium 5. Upon the outer surfaces of the side walls of the body 5 are the lugs or ears 5 provided with the openings 5 therethrough and extending through the openings 5 of the lower bottom. edge of the casing 5 is' the lugs 5 and suitably secured therein are the handle bars 5, though there may be individual handles secured to the lugs 5 if desiredin lieu of the handle bars 5'. Upon preferably formed the outwardly extending rib or flange 5 the purpose and function of which will be hereinafter explained, and within the lower edge portion of the casing vent moisture, water and parasites preferably previously to the placing of the casing 5 a suitable acking material or substance is placed wit in the recess 1 beneath .the lower edges of thecasing 5 and which packing material may be in the nature of the pneumatic ring 6 shown 1n Figs. 2-3 or tubular hose members may be employed andif desired felt, cotton waste, excelsior, or any other suitable packing material may be used in lieu of the pneumatic ring 6; and as a precautionary measure the upper cofiin body or casing 5 may be temporarily locked or secured upon the base 1 in any suitable and desirable manner, for instance,

.the handle bars 4 of the base member 1 and the handle bars 5' of the casing 5 may be locked together by any suitable means] such as straps and padlocks, locked chains or seals, and there may be interposed between the lower portion of the casing 5 and the upper portion of the .hoop 3 the strips '1 to prevent lateral and endwlse movements of the casing 5.

.When the casket has reached its destination or place of burial, strips 7 and the casformed by the rabbeted portions of the base 1 and the reinforcin hoop or band3, the

cementitious materia securely cements the lower edge portion of the upper coflin body or casln 2 upon t e base member 1, this cementitious material 8 by engaging the rib or flange 5 of the casing 5 more efliciently secures the casing '5 upon the base member land thus forms a unitary structure which will reom gaining access into the interior of the coffin ody when the casket has been deposited in the ave.

Th top of the cofiin body 5 may be made of the same material as the sides and ends and formed integral therewith, onthe glass top 5 may extend the full length and width .of the top of the body 5' as'shown or may 5 to the portion 2 of the surface lhe coflin body or casing 5 and the upper surface 2 of the base 1 are preferably formed of plastic, cementitious or argillaceous substances and when secured together by the sealing medium 8 these parts form an interal structure having no securing screws or olts to decay and allow the parts to fall apart and thereby expose the corpse to the influence of moisture and water and attacks by parasites, -burrowing animals and the like. Furthermore, I provide a sectional casket whereby the corpse may be more readily positioned within the casket by the provision of the base 1 and the removable cover or casing 5, the casket being capable of shipment without thedanger of breakage or displacements and which can be readily handled either as a whole or in part.

As stated the casing and base, if desired, may be made of any suitable material. Where very light caskets are desired they might be made of thin sheet metal or of paper. If made of paper it should e treated to. render same moisture and ac d proof. If made of sheet metal they should be provided with a moisture and acid proof coating or lined with treated paper. Such light casings could be nested for transportation. If the bases were made of similar light material with integral side, flanges they could also be nested. The casings and bases would fit or telescope substantially as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4:, and the joint therebetween could be sealed by suitable cementitious material; such joint between the casing and,the base may be made at different points in the total height of the casket .according to the depth of the flange on the base and sides of the casing.

The casket may be padded and lined in anysuitable manner, and while I prefer to form the parts thereof of the materials and shapes above set forth, the base and casing or either may be formed of any indestructible, non-corrosive and impervious *material or materials and of any desired conformation, and further, my invention is not to be understood as being restricted to the exact construction shown and described as any desired and expedient alterations and variations therein may be resorted to without de-' parting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What I claim is: 1. In a casket, the combination of a base member having a surrounding groove, a reinforcing hoop or band encompassmgsaid base member and groove and forming an ex- -terior enlargement of the outer wall of the groove, a hollow' casing adapted to be positioned upon said base member. within said groove and hoop, and'meansfor securing said casing within the groove of said base member.

2. In a casket, the. combination with a base member having a surrounding groove formed in its upper edges, a body upon said base member, a reinforcing band surrounding said base member and providing a channel with said groove, a casing adapted to be seated in said channel, an adhesive material introduced in said channel, and a rib or flange upon said casing engaged by the adhesive material.

3. In a casket, the combination with a base member having a surrounding groove formed in its upper edges, a body upon said .having a groove formed in its upper edges,

a reinforcing band or hoop surrounding said base member and having its upper edges lying above the plane of said base member, handle securing means upon said base member, handle bars secured to said handle securing means, and a casing adapted tobe secured upon said base member within said groove and band.

5. In a casket, the combination of a base having a groove formed in its upper edges, a reinforcing band or hoo surrounding said base member and having 1ts upper edges lying above the plane of said base member, handle securing means upon said base member, handle bars secured to said handle securing means, a casing adapted to be secured upon said base member within said groove and band; and handle bars upon said casing.

6. In a casket, the combination of a base having a groove formed in its upper edges, a cement body upon the upper surface of said base member and said groove, a reinforcing band or hoop surrounding said base member and having its upper edges lying above the plane of said cement body upon said base member, a plurality of stirrups secured upon the under side of said base member, and handle bars secured in the upper ends of said stirrups.

7. In a casket, the combination of a base having a groove formed in its upper edges, a cementbody upon the upper surface of said base member and said groove, a reinforcing band or hoop surroundin said base member and having its upper e ges lying above the plane of said cement bodyupon said base member, a pluralit of stirrups secured u on the under side 0 said base memher, an handle bars secured in the upper ends of said stirrups, with an inverted hollow casing adapted to be secured upon said in the said channel and around the edges of said casing and the flange thereof for securing said casing upon said base member.

9. In a casket, the combination of a base member having its upper edges rabbeted, a reinforcing hoop or band surrounding said base member and its rabbeted portion, said rabbeted portion and the upper portion of said reinforcing band providing a channel;

an inverted hollow casing having its lower edges seated within said channel, an outwardly projecting rib or flange upon the lower edges of said casing, a cementitious body introduced in the said channel and around the edges of said casing and the rib or flange thereon for securing said casing upon said base member, and means for handling said base member together with said casing.

10. A base member, comprising a body portion having its side and end walls upwardly and outwardly inclined, a reinforcing band surrounding said body portion and of the contour of the side and end walls of the body portion, a top layer upon said body portion, bars uponthe under side of said body portion, arms upon the ends of said bars, loop members upon the extremities of said arms, and handle bars secured in said loop members to provide means for carrying said base member. 11. A base member, oomprisin a body portion having its upper edges rab eted, and its side and end walls upwardly and outwardly inclined, a reinforcing band surwean rounding said body portion and of the contour of the side and end walls of the body ortion, said rabbeted portion and said band orming a channel, a top layer upon said body portion and said channel, horizontal bars upon the under side of said body portion, upstanding angle arms upon the ends of said horizontal bars, loop members-upon the extremities of said angle arms, and handle bars secured in said loop members to provide means for carrying said base mem- 12. A burial casket comprising .a base; a casing closed at top and sides but open at bottom and having projecting ribs on its sides, said casing being adapted to be seated on the base to protect and cover a body laid upon the base; longitudinal handle-rods transfixing ribs ,on said casing whereby it may be moved independently of the base; and handles attached to the sides of the base whereby it may be moved independently of the casing or together with the casin when the latter is placed thereon, substantlally as described. i

13. A burial casket comprising a base provided with a channel adJacent its edge; a casing closed at top ands sides but open at bottom and adapted to have its lower edge seated in said channel when placed upon the base; means for sealing the edge of said casing within said channel when the casing is placed on the base; longitudinally disposed handles on the sides of said casing whereby it may be moved independently of the base; transversely disposed angle arms attached to and extending under the base; 7

and handle bars secured to said angle arms at opposite sides of the base for transporting the base either separately or together with the casing when the latter is placed on the base, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I affix my signature.

Qmoon n. McHNNEY, 

